Content:

(CCC, BBB, V, M) Very strong Christian, moral worldview complete with prayer in a church and other prayer where only God can solve the plot problem; no foul language; some dangerous falls on the ice, one of which causes a coma, and other physical but minor violence such as guy gets hit by a door; romance and kissing but no sex scenes or sexual immorality implied or depicted; no nudity; no alcohol use; no smoking or drugs; and, lying but rebuked in the plot.

Summary:

ICE DREAMS is a very well told story about an Olympic skater who gave up when her father died but finds new life on the ice, with help from God and prayer. ICE DREAMS is very well constructed, redemptive and spiritually uplifting.

Review:

ICE DREAMS is a very well told story about an Olympic skater who gave up when her father died but finds new life on the ice.

ICE DREAMS opens when Tim, who’s taken a leave of absence, walks into a rundown ice rink he just inherited from his beloved uncle. He quickly finds out the city would like to tear down the rink and re-develop the land.

Camping out in the manager’s office at night, Tim hears a ruckus and finds out a former Olympic champion named Amy comes in late at night to skate her heart out. Evidently, his uncle had a soft spot for the down and out and made the ice rink available to people like Amy for free, so the bills have added up.

Another skater, a young girl named Nikki, has aspirations of being a great skater but, after her father’s divorce from her mother, she cannot afford a coach. So, Tim convinces Amy to coach Nikki. Clearly, Nikki has promise, and the coaching is bringing Amy out of her shell.

Amy is still angry with herself, however, because her father died in a car accident trying to rush her to a practice. Thus, Amy blames herself. But, she has run out of jobs and money and refuses to take her large inheritance because it comes at the price of her father’s death.

Everything seems lost for Nikki winning the regional skating competition when Amy overhears Tim agreeing to sell the property to a wealthy developer named Nolan. Only a miracle can save the day. Amy goes to church to pray for just that.

ICE DREAMS is very well constructed. The jeopardy kicks in the moment Tim sees the headline that the city wants to seize the skating rink. And, the jeopardy intensifies as the viewer meets the people who need the rink to pursue their God-given gifts. Amy’s mother, in fact, tells Amy she needs to show up for her life and do something with the talents she’s been given.

The principals in ICE DREAMS are terrific skaters, and the actors were chosen for their ability to skate. Better than that, they’re convincing, compelling and interesting. And, the dialogue is witty and poignant.

All of that said, this is a Hallmark Channel movie, so it is not intense, nor cutting edge. Also, the Hallmark Channel has been trying to move away from explicitly Christian moments in its movies. Thus, it is surprising to find the church scene in ICE DREAMS. It is constructed, however, so that Amy could be praying to her dead father or her Father in Heaven. The writers, however, understood this is a story of redemption and made it as clear as they could, given the Hallmark Channel’s politically correct drift. It also should be noted that most of the production team are friends of MOVIEGUIDE®.

MOVIEGUIDE® commends the movie ICE DREAMS, especially for teenagers who have dreams of excelling in their favorite sport.

In Brief:

The Hallmark Channel movie ICE DREAMS opens when Tim, who’s taken a leave of absence, walks into a rundown ice rink he just inherited from his beloved uncle. He quickly finds out the city would like to tear down the rink and re-develop the land. Camping out in the manager’s office at night, Tim hears a ruckus and finds out a former Olympic champion named Amy comes in late at night to skate her heart out. Evidently, his uncle had a soft spot for the down and out and made the ice rink available to people like Amy for free, so the bills have added up. Tim convinces Amy to coach another young skater, but everyone needs a miracle when Amy overhears Tim agreeing to sell the property to a wealthy developer.

ICE DREAMS is very well constructed. The jeopardy kicks in the moment Tim sees the headline that the city wants to seize the skating rink. And, the jeopardy intensifies as the viewer meets the people who need the rink to pursue their God-given gifts. In fact, only prayer and God can solve the plot problem in the uplifting, redemptive finale of ICE DREAMS.